Youness Moussafir, hailing from Casablanca, Morocco, has been living in Hungary for six years. In June 2022, while still a student, he joined MOL as a CAPEX Management intern and was promoted to an Expert in Research-Production Project Management and Standards a year later.

Spending his first three years in Dunaújváros, establishing social connections outside of work and integrating were significantly challenged by language barriers. However, this was not an issue in Budapest. Meeting his wife at university, he now spends much time in Rácalmás with his new family cultural experiences and quality time together, Youness cites as his most special memories.

Joining MOL facilitated a seamless integration:

"I greatly appreciate the prayer room available in my workplace building, which I visit three times a day due to my Muslim faith. It's also helpful that all communication and workplace interaction is available in both English and Hungarian, and there's hardly anyone here who doesn't speak English. This creates an inclusive environment for me."

The diverse cultural backgrounds bring various problem-solving methods. "It's clear to me that creativity in our team stems from the diversity of personalities. Using a second or third language brings out something unique from within you," he says.

"Given my experiences here, I would wholeheartedly recommend MOL to other international engineers. I feel fortunate to work with some of the best teams here and appreciate being included in all gatherings." He proudly shows a unique calendar, a birthday gift from colleagues, featuring a funny Hungarian phrase and its English translation for each week. His favorite? "Where are you sausage-ing to?" he adds with a laugh.

"MY COLLEAGUE TAUGHT ME HOW TO MAKE GINGERBREAD"

Yaledis Katie Garcia de Armas arrived in Hungary from the Republic of Colombia in 2020 on a scholarship to earn her master's degree in petroleum engineering. Starting in November 2023, she works at MOL as a Reservoir Engineer in the Growww program, involved in estimating hydrocarbon assets based on production history and forecasting production.

For Katie, the biggest challenge in Hungary is learning the language and pronunciation, while the most fascinating aspect is the country's history. She notes that historical memory is highly valued here.

Regarding inclusivity, she highlights that at MOL, the focus is on skills and experience rather than nationality. "We accept that the company employs people from diverse backgrounds. We are professionals and humans, regardless of where we come from."

While in her home country work typically starts at 9 or 10 in the morning with little flexibility, MOL offers more flexible working hours. Influenced by the significantly higher number of public holidays in Colombia for example, the carnival lasts about two weeks remote working has become more common there. Katie prefers working in the office at MOL for better communication and efficiency in project work and problem-solving.

For international engineers aspiring to follow in her footsteps, she advises persistence in face of initial failed attempts to join their desired company. And as for concerns about obtaining work permits or communication at the workplace:

"MOL provides substantial assistance throughout the process, and I didn't even have to visit the immigration office alone," she adds.

Spending Christmas alone in Hungary away from her family in Colombia, Katie didn't feel lonely, thanks to a colleague who taught her to make and decorate gingerbread at a Christmas gathering. "Turns out I'm not very talented at this, but I had a great time and lots of laughs," she shares.

"DIVERSE CULTURAL BACKGROUNDS ENABLE CREATIVE PROBLEM-SOLVING"

Alen Džanić joined the MOL Group's Research-Production Commercial, Business Development, and Non-Operated Assets Management as a student from Croatia, coming to Budapest for his master's studies. Initially falling in love with Budapest, he later applied to MOL. "One evening, towards the end of university, my friends and I decided to stay in Budapest for another year, to find jobs so we could rent a flat and enjoy the city," he recounts.

Alen was part of the 2012 Growww program at MOL Group, has held various positions in five countries, and worked as the financial director for MOL's North Sea operations in Norway and the United Kingdom, followed by a year in Zagreb as the controlling director at INA.

"What I love about Budapest is its perfect combination of good things without any extremes. The events, cultural life, and nightlife are fantastic. Just stepping out of my home in Bakáts square, I'm immediately surrounded by people. There are great cafés just a few minutes’ walk away, which is particularly important to me as a Croatian – Saturday morning coffee is a tradition for us," he explains. Like the others, Alen identifies language barriers as the most challenging aspect in Hungary, mainly in rural areas and during administrative proceedings. But he also sees it as an adventure.

In his view, as MOL has grown, it has made significant strides toward inclusivity.

"When I started working at MOL 12 years ago, most documents were only available in Hungarian. As MOL expanded, it needed to create an environment where international professionals could feel comfortable and understand each other," he notes.

He adds that a company's role is to provide a neutral space; positive discrimination is often seen as counterproductive.

He mentions that MOL offers language courses, accommodation search assistance, and advice, including on commuting options from different parts of Budapest. He would encourage international professionals applying to MOL to see the current situation as an excellent opportunity for learning.

Alen agrees that cultural background influences problem-solving approaches. "There are always exceptions, but it's quite visible that Croatians tend to act quickly and correct mistakes afterward. In contrast, Hungarians tend to think things over ten times before taking action. At times, it seems to me that everything is too slow, and to my colleagues, it seems I act without thinking. Neither is true; the truth lies somewhere in between," he elaborates.

The solution, according to Alen, always relies on communication since ultimately, both sides are heading in the same direction, just differently. "Over the past 12 years, having carried and gained so much experience together, we've learned to bring out the best in each other. There were instances when my approach was preferred over the other, and vice versa. We accept that in certain situations, some approaches work better. That's all there is to it."

HERE, EVERYONE HAS AN EQUAL CHANCE FOR GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT, AND DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVES ARE RECOGNIZED

Siako Mamoond from the Kurdish region of Iraq highlights the creative problem-solving stemming from cultural differences. Having come to Hungary on a scholarship, he earned a degree in chemical engineering from Budapest University of Technology and Economics. After completing several internships at MOL, he joined the Growww program. He has since worked in numerous Downstream and Upstream projects and is currently a project engineer for E&P surface facilities and projects.

"Growing up in an environment where unpredictability was the norm, I developed a unique approach to problem-solving," Siako says. "The constant uncertainty due to political situations taught me to be highly adaptable, solution-oriented, and analytical. Some of these traits I gained from experience, while others I learned from my father a civil engineer who inspired me to pursue engineering. This background allows me to bring a distinctive perspective to our team that enhances our collective problem-solving process."

According to Siako, MOL highly values the diverse insights and experiences of international professionals. The company creates an inclusive environment by ensuring all employees are recognized and valued regardless of their cultural background or country of origin.

"Here, everyone has an equal opportunity for growth and development, and different perspectives are recognized. This approach not only fosters a sense of belonging and recognition among team members but also encourages innovation, collaboration, and shared success," he continues.

The project engineer enjoys the "vibrant cultural mix" in Hungary, especially attending classical music concerts and exploring the country's rich artistic heritage, visiting historical sites and museums. His most memorable experiences are connected to Hungarian dance houses, where he feels connected to Hungarian culture through "lively traditional dances."

Navigating the Hungarian language presents an exciting challenge, as it's considered one of the most difficult languages in the world. "The learning process is enriching, offering a unique lens through which to appreciate the country's rich culture. I hope to one day speak the language well enough to understand Hungarian poetry, which I imagine is as deep and nuanced as the language itself," Siako adds.

"GETTING TO KNOW DIFFERENT VIEWS CAN LEAD TO A COMMON SOLUTION"

Valentina Gregoric arrived at MOL from Croatia's INA in July 2023. Working as a Senior Expert in Research-Production Business Support, she focuses on business planning, reporting, and executive support.

At MOL, the welcoming attitude of colleagues towards newcomers, whether Hungarian or from other countries, is a positive aspect she highlights. "When I arrived, I was the only foreigner in our team. I received a warm welcome, my colleagues were very helpful, and I was immediately involved in discussions."

According to Valentina, cultural differences are advantageous because they offer a wealth of learning opportunities from diversity and various viewpoints.

"This is why I find it important at MOL that we are encouraged to share our opinions. Getting to know different views can lead to a common solution."

Continuing about work methodologies, she adds:

"We Croatians are quite curious and love to explore things. When given a new task, we delve into it and try to perform our best. We're quite persistent, and once we start something, we don't want to leave it unfinished."

Among initiatives to aid integration, Valentina highlights MOL Research-Production's "blind lunch" program, not limited to foreigners but open to the entire division. "Once a month, you can have lunch with a colleague you might not have met before, further supporting community integration."

Valentina joins her colleagues in citing language as the biggest challenge but notes significant improvement; communicating in English is much easier than it was a few years ago when she visited Hungary on business. She finds Budapest a beautiful city that is vibrant every day, all around the clock. Here, she enjoys a more flexible work schedule than at her previous job in Croatia.

To future international engineers, she would definitely recommend trying out working at MOL:

"It’s a win-win situation where one can gain further work experience and meet new people. This has been a truly valuable experience in my life," she says.

EVERYONE CAN FIND THEIR PLACE

The design of offices and communal spaces plays a crucial role in creating an inclusive environment. The MOL Campus, the company's international headquarters, not only facilitates this but also contributes to efficient work processes. Katie, for example, adores the view from the top floors of MOL Campus, despite her general fear of heights. "It's great that we can choose where to work from on any given day. If I want a different view from my desk or to work with different people on certain days, I can do so," she says.

Youness finds MOL Campus ideal for effective work, mentioning the dual monitors, adjustable desks, very comfortable chairs, and the quiet 'focus boxes' designed for concentrated work. His favorite spots are the library and the lush "jungle," both perfect for work.

Alen first praises the location of MOL Campus, enjoying the view of Kopaszi-gát and Lágymányosi Bay from his office window.

"Having spent the majority of my 12 years at MOL in the old building, it's grown on me, but it's incomparable to the current one in terms of technology and work conditions."

Though his office arguably has one of the best views, he enjoys holding meetings in the workplace café.

Siako appreciates the variety of workspace options the most, especially how the office layout allows him to meet colleagues from within the organization he wouldn't otherwise encounter. His favorite is the "working garden," an indoor jungle created on the Campus premises where he prepared for this interview and he plays ping pong in the game room once a week, reminiscing about playing with his father.

While the rooftop terrace and the "jungle" are attractive, Valentina prefers staying on her team's level. "I feel very comfortable in this atmosphere, surrounded by people I know, where problems can be immediately resolved. The open space facilitates quicker communication, but you can also retreat to focus rooms. Everyone can find their place here, whatever the occasion."